SPORTS

This time last year, Rusty Smith was on the FAU sidelines recovering from the shoulder injury that forced him to miss a good chunk of his senior season. 

On Sunday, he became the first Owl to ever play in an NFL game and was also named the Tennessee Titans’ starting quarterback for next week’s game. 

Facing the Washington Redskins, Smith came on and replaced an injured Vince Young, who started the game because Kerry Collins was ruled out for weeks with a strained left calf.

Smith couldn’t have been pleased as the Titans lost in overtime 19-16, but if getting his first bit of playing time in the NFL wasn’t reason enough to make him ecstatic, what happened after the game might be. 

He was announced as the Titans’ starting quarterback by head coach Jeff Fisher due to Young’s behavior after getting benched. Young left the stadium in anger during halftime.

Fisher’s decision to make Smith the starter means the FAU alum will lead the 5-5 Titans when they travel to take on the Houston Texans next Sunday. 

Smith took over late in the third quarter with the score tied at 13, and hit the illustrious Randy Moss with a 36-yard touchdown pass on his first throw. Unfortunately for Smith, the Titans and FAU fans, offensive pass interference was called on Moss, negating the score. 

On the Titans’ next drive, in the fourth quarter, Smith completed his first official throw with a 52-yard pass to wide receiver Nate Washington (you can see the play at www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010112108/2010/REG11/redskins@titans#tab:watch/contentId:09000d5d81c48d58). That play helped set up a field goal for Tennessee. 

That would be the first of three completions for Smith, who finished the game 3-9 for 62 yards and an interception. The pick came when Smith overthrew Washington with just more than five minutes left in the game (you can see this play at www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2010112108/2010/REG11/redskins@titans#tab:watch/contentId:09000d5d81c491a2).

Regulation ended at 16-16, and the Redskins won in overtime through a field goal despite Smith and the Titans receiving the ball first.